On Saturday nights at Bridgestone Arena, SlapShot Radio’s photographer captures the color and the action from Smashville, so here are your Sunday Shots…
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| From Predators vs Jets March 7, 2015 |
Last night’s disheartening 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena is hard to explain… Six straight losses - eight losses in the last ten games – 0 for March are even harder to explain for the slumping Nashville Predators. Is it a lack of effort? Believing too much of your press? A lack of puck luck? The trading of Olli Jokinen? The acquisition of Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli? Squeezing the stick? Upset chemistry? Outside life factors? Who knows… it may be a combination of all of those factors or none of them. The only ones who really know are in the room.
This is the second stretch of adversity this team has gone through this magical season. The first being Pekka Rinne’s knee injury in late January. The team got through that patch and came out of it with a six game win streak. One thing that has been consistent all season has been the Predator’s resiliency. The ability to bounce back in adversity… well, things don’t get much more adverse than this. The good news may be that the dog days of the season are behind them, with fifteen games to go the time to ramp it up for the playoffs is now.
Right now.
How does this team get well? Playing thorough it and get back to playing Predator hockey… this year’s Predator hockey. The team has taken on a nasty habit of looking for the pretty goal, the perfect shot, when the only goals they have been scoring are greasy ones. A team unafraid to put the puck on the net has all of a sudden started to pass one time too many.
Being on the road may help. A slightly more relaxed schedule may also help. The Predators only have two games until their road trip finishing back-to-back in SoCal. Tomorrow night in Arizona, then Thursday in San Jose, one against a team that is out of it and another against a Sharks team that struggles at home… then a lethal back-to-back, Saturday @ LA and Sunday at Anaheim. A little rest for the weary…
After this trip, the Preds play only three games in a nine day stretch at home… a desperately needed break in the schedule.
Here are your highlights courtesy of nhl.com…
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Even though VIP tickets are gone… there are still good seats available… Tickets are on sale for the SlapShot Radio Cook Off. Predators forward Eric Nystrom and I will be battling it out at The Chef and I in Lenox Village on Monday night, March 23rd. If you have never been to The Chef and I, it is an “open kitchen… restaurant that allows you to watch the chef create your dinner! An incredible, accessible and unique experience. Eric and I will be taking over the show kitchen to compete in an “Iron Chef… like battle to win the Cup!
Measuring Cup that is…
It’s all to raise money for the Nashville Predators Foundation and should be a lot of fun! Tickets are on sale at our EventBrite site all tickets include a three course gourmet meal prepared by Chef Chris Rains.
Please join us for all the fun, for a great cause! And by the way… you might want to check out The Chef and I’s website… they handle catering, conduct fun cooking classes and run a fantastic restaurant. Chris and Erica Rains are amazing people!
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 3/7 – Nashville is stuck on 89 points and trails Anaheim by two points in the Western Conference race, their lead in the Central is down to 2 points over St. Louis and 6 over Chicago. The Blues and Blackhawks have two games in hand over Nashville.
- The Western Wild Card – Minnesota (65 games played) owns the first wild card slot with 79 points, Winnipeg (66) is in the second with 78 points. LA (65) trails the pack by 3 points, San Jose (66) by 6 points.
- One bright spot last night was Ryan Ellis getting back on the scoresheet, frankly playing his best game since returning from a lower body injury.
- The team will not practice today, they are taking off for the desert for tomorrow’s game against Arizona.
- Last night’s loss was the first time Pekka Rinne has lost to the Winnipeg Jets.
- I really feel for former Preds associate head coach Peter Horachek… he is in a no win situation in Toronto with a team that has completely given up. This is a coach that deserves much better.
- The stick-to-itive ness… if that’s a word, of Atlanta hockey fans is awesome… plenty of Thrasher jerseys representing last night at Bridgestone Arena.
- Six games in the NHL today – Red Wings @ Bruins, Oilers @ Hurricanes, Flyers @ Devils, Avalanche @ Wild, Flames @ Senators, Rangers @ Balckhawks..
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1
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SlapShot Radio is back every Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network… latest podcast is posted. This week’s guests include the director of the new documentary Red Army, Gabe Polsky… the movie opens in Nashville on March 20th at the Belcourt Theatre. We will have passes to giveaway for the movie.
Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at 615-872-7762. Also The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills and Burger Republic!
We’ve got room for your business to be part of the SlapShot Radio family with effective and affordable advertising packages for every budget. Be part of the excitement of Nashville hockey… Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
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